Happy Holidays! Cards & More from Zazzle

The holiday season is full of traditions and ours is no different.  Each year we spend time with family watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, playing card games, listening to holiday music and eating until our bellies burst.  We also are sure to send out a photo card to wish everyone a good season and a happy new year.

Shutterfly has been our go-to for our photo cards.  Their paper is nice and thick and their printing is high-quality.  We usually find a coupon for our stack of cards but the price is still a bit more than the generic holiday cards you can find in-store.  Always the budget-minded shopper, this year I stumbled upon an amazing groupon for a new company so I thought I'd give it a try.

Zazzle is an online marketplace where you can create, buy and sell custom-printed items.  Want a custom protective case for your smartphone?  Done.  Want to print that hilarious cat-meme you created on a coffee mug?  No problem.  Want to send out holiday cards with photos of your adorable family.  Perfect timing!

Customizing our cards was super simple with their online customization tools - just upload the photos, edit the text and colors and complete the order.  We received our cards about 3 days after we ordered through Zazzle.  We received 75 double-sided printed cards on heavy cardstock for less than $40.  Not too bad.

Plus, right now Zazzle is having a holiday sale so stock up on those holiday cards and tell those you love howdy!  (P.S. Use the code personalcheer at checkout for 50% off your cards!)

Happy Holidays!

Handmade Holidays // Cornstarch Clay Ornaments

Is it any surprise that I love to throw in a handmade gift for the holidays?  A few years back I made Hot Pepper Jelly and it just wouldn't be Christmas without the Myers girls' annual Homemade Caramel making party.  I'm still making the caramels this year but I'm also adding a handmade ornament using cornstarch clay.

Salt dough tends to be the go-to medium for handmade clay/dough ornaments but a failed attempt last year when I tried making a couple thumbprint ornaments left me pretty unimpressed.  I wasn't a fan of how grainy the ornaments were from the salt granules so I thought I'd give cornstarch clay a try this year.

The recipe for cornstarch clay is slightly more involved than the salt dough but it requires a shorter drying time, is much more smooth and is a nice bright white when finished.

DIY Holiday Decor // Christmas Tree String Art

Just like every other holiday, I'm not a big decorator.  There's something about hauling all of the decorations out of their hiding places putting them out for a month and then having to put them all back that just turns me off.  I'm not a total Grinch - I do manage to garner up the motivation to decorate the mantle at Christmas.

This year I kept it pretty simple and traditional with my DIY West Elm Copycat Trees, a vintage window, Pottery Barn velvet stockings, lights and a cedar garland - and a new addition that I whipped up for Jo-Ann Fabrics & Craft Store's Celebrate the Season Campaign.  If this DIY Christmas Tree String Art isn't #fabulouslyfestive I don't know what is.

 To create your own, you'll need:

• Embroidery Thread (DMC 25 Embroidery Thread #987 from Jo-Ann Fabrics)
• Scrap Wood or Wood Plaque from Jo-Ann Fabrics
• Nails/Hammer
• Tree template

Thanksgiving Decor // Turkey Tablescapes

We're taking it easy over here for the holidays - something about a new baby and a busy three year old that leaves me little to no time or energy to really get down to crafting/decorating.  I did manage to find a short little break to create this festive thanksgiving tablesetting for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store's Celebrate the Season campaign - a perfect setting for that turkey and all those delicious side dishes.

I kept it simple with a brown craft paper table "cloth" which is inexpensive, customizable and a breeze to clean up.  That homemade cranberry sauce sure is tough to get out of those linen tablecloths.  All I did was cut off two lengths from a roll of craft paper.  To get it to lay down along the sides, just run your finger along the edge of the table creating a sharp crease.  I also folded the corners so they'd drape nicely.

DIY CRAFTS: 14 Crafts & Activities for Valentine's Day

Last year I was a bit more motivated than I am this year and created one project a day for 14 days and I called it...wait for it....

Original, right?  Well here's a recap of all the projects from last year.

Say Merry Christmas With A DIY Personalized Mug

First off, Merry Christmas!  I hope you all are enjoying some quality time with your families.  After all that has happened it's these little things, time spent with family and friends, that seem so important.  So cuddle up, stay up a little later and cherish every moment.

This quick and simple DIY gift is perfect for the coffee lover in your family or any last minute gift giving.

I know I'm not the first one to venture into sharpie drawing craziness (my neighbor made some adorable stick figure mugs for her Mom), but I thought I'd share this easy DIY gift idea, anyhoo.

Hang Your Stockings By The Fire...Or Not!

Christmas stockings conjure thoughts of joy and cheer as soon as you see them, making them a great and easy addition to holiday decor. Tradition touts, "Hang your stockings by the chimney with care." But luckily, those without a fireplace or mantel — or those wanting to break with tradition — have many options for hanging up their stockings this holiday season.  

From a branch.   Use a natural element, like a branch or a piece of driftwood, in your holiday decor by mounting it on your wall like Jaime from CraftyScrappyHappy has done here. Stockings can be hung using colorful ribbon.

On a ladder. Whether your style is modern or rustic, you can find a ladder for either and everything in between. Haven't been able to find the perfect ladder? Make your own, as Jenn has done here.

For the entire list of unique places to hang your stockings which features bloggers like the two amazing ladies above, plus even more suggestions in the comments section, check out my latest Houzz Ideabook.

10 Unusual Places for Christmas Stockings

Are you sans mantle?  Where do you hang your stockings?

Holiday Traditions and The Best Caramels EVER

With the holiday season fully upon us and the smell of evergreen and hot toddies in the air, it has me waxing nostalgic.  There are so many wonderful memories that remind me of this special time of year with my family.

Our little Christmas went a little something like this:

As soon as the last drumstick was eaten our Christmas traditions would begin, we'd all gather around and watch the greatest of all holiday movies - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas we'd make my Nana's secret recipe (Betty Crocker) caramels, which we'd give out to friends and family in hopes that they'd follow in our 10 pound holiday gain.  We'd spend nights sledding down our black diamond hill and sharing hot buttered rum with Meme (our other grandma).  My mom would purchase 100s of holiday cards only to forget to send them and in true procrastinator spirit - we'd decorate the tree a week before.

And finally, Christmas Eve would arrive - we'd snuggle up and listen to Mom read "The Night Before Christmas" with holiday music in the background, play some cards and then around 6 pm we'd all run to one of our rooms (because on Christmas Eve we all slept together) so Christmas morning would come early.  We'd lay there too excited to sleep dreaming about all the surprises we'd find under the tree the next day - and usually, I'd try to get the secrets out of my younger siblings.  We'd wake up to my Dad's blueberry muffins baking in the oven and drag ourselves sleepily to the sofa and sit sheepishly waiting for our gifts because even on the greatest of holidays and in the comfort of our own home - we're all incredibly shy.

Pumpkin A'Plenty - 6 Ways to Put That Pumpkin Decor To Use

Now that we're fully into Christmas decorating season, what are you going to do with the leftover pumpkins that survived the fall?  Luckily, I have six ways to keep them from rotting on your front porch.

1.  Roast The Seeds

Who doesn't love baked pumpkin seeds?  Cut the pumpkin in half and separate the seeds from the membrane.  Rinse the seeds and allow them to dry on a paper towel.  Spray a baking sheet with oil, spread out seeds evenly, sprinkle with salt and bake for 10-20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Store seeds in an airtight container.  Regular ol' pumpkin seeds a little too boring?  Try these tasty takes on the classic - cinnamon & sugar, ginger-orange zest, spicy and cheesy.

{VIA}

Fa La La

It seems that as soon as I finished decorating for fall, Christmas peeked it's head around the corner and yelled, surprise!  Luckily my holiday decorating is the same from year to year so the process is pretty painless.

I pick up a cedar bough garland and lay it across the mantle.  The trimmings get made into a wreath for the front door.  I love the look of cedar - it's vibrant emerald green color and the natural texture that it adds.

I hang our crimson and white Pottery Barn velvet stockings that I got for a steal at an after season sale from my Eddie Bauer stocking hooks (another goodwill find.)

A Few of My Favorite Things: Five Under $30

With Christmas looming around the corner I'm in total gift buying mode.  I usually spend the year thinking of things to get people and am pretty much done buying gifts by the time December rolls around.  This year is a whole 'nother story and I'm feeling the pressure. Luckily, I have an arsenal of go-to favorites when I get in a bind.  Like, right now.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

 So what about you guys?  Have any favorite gifts that you love to give?

Thankful

'Tis the season to be over-stressed, over-traveled, and over-tired but, most of all, over-thankful.  And boy, am I.  I feel very blessed to have great family, great friends and the opportunity to stay home with my little man and get to share my creative spirit with all of you.  Thank you all for stopping in time and again and supporting this lil' blog.

DIY Halloween Costumes

What?  It's been over a week since Halloween?  Rather than get caught up in the details let's just take a look at our rad DIY Halloween costumes this year. 

The hubs and I stepped out on the town the Saturday before Halloween for some much needed grown up fun.  We threw these little numbers together last minute using things we had at home, plus some makeup and hair assistance from the neighbors. 

Say hello to Frankenstein and Frankenstein's Bride.

Not too shabby for pulling it out a couple hours before the party.  And guess what?  That's my wedding dress!  Frankenstein's bolts - those are painted marshmallows.  They did a pretty damn good job of sticking too.  My hair - that's the end result of some crazy teasing and a disgusting mixture of egg whites and elmer's glue.  I woke up the next morning still rocking the hair style.  It.Didn't.Move.  Luckily it came out pretty easily in the shower with the ol' smear on a bunch of conditioner, brush through, rinse and wash method.

How Do Monsters Tell Their Fortune?

Their Horrorscopes!

I try to hold off switching out my spring/summer decor to fall until the beginning of October.  I've always been in a state of denial in September - holding on to the last bits of summer like a couple of Nicholas Sparks lovebirds after they've reunited.  That includes all things from sandals and tanks to decor, but this new 9-5 job that I've been working has me itching to get creative.  So this weekend I decided to say adios to a season that is far too short in this area of the world and ring in the first day of fall with an homage to the scariest of holidays.

Our mantle got a whole lot scarier with some vintage finds like these apothecary bottles, medical prints, a window and some handmade items like the bats and the cutest little felt witch hat, plus a few other items that show up on the mantle rather frequently.  This vignette is much more Hogwarts than Hades, which is just the way I like it.

14 Days of Valentines: Day 14 Homemade Valentine Cookies

It's day 14 of 14 Days of Valentines!  I made it!!

It's not a Valentine's Day without sugar cookies.  I have a tradition and it stems from years of attending school in the LSD (not THAT LSD.)  We did our Valentine's Day right.  With Cookies!  And not just your normal cookies, special request cookies that had your very own name or message on them.  Your parents or special admirers would pre-order them and on V-Day you'd be surprised with your very own delicious cookie.  Pretty awesome, if you ask me.

Then, in college my friend and I would spend the weekend before finals at her Grandma's friend's house where we'd study until our eyes bled and ate until our bellies burst.  Among plates of mashed potatoes and gravy, we'd also munch down some deliciously fattening sugar cookies.

14 Days of Valentines: Day 12 Paper Heart Bookmark

It's day 12 of 13 Days of Valentines, my attempt at one Valentine's inspired craft each day.

The hubs and I both share the reading bug and we NEVER have a dedicated bookmark to save our spots.  (We're not really corner folders...we love our books too much.)  I've found myself using the closest thing I can find to save my page...like an Amazon gift card, someone's business card, a stray piece of paper, or a tissue (clean, of course!)

Well, not anymore!  We've got our very own set of colorful heart shaped corner bookmarks.

14 Days of Valentines: Day 11 Stamped Heart Card

It's day 11 of 14 Days of Valentines, my attempt at one Valentine's inspired craft each day.

For day 11's project I repurposed a champagne cork into a heart shaped stamp and, with the help of my little man, made some cards and wrapping paper.  A very simple project, but one that won me over and I can't decide if it was due to having a handsome little helper or the bubbly.

I absolutely love champagne and sparkling wine.  I could drink it every single day.  (Don't worry, I don't.) 

14 Days of Valentines: Day 10 Our Song Lyrical Typography Print

It's day 10 of 14 Days of Valentines, my attempt at one Valentine's inspired craft each day.

I am always finding frames at thrift stores and purchasing them.  To say that my husband is a bit annoyed with our abundance of frames is an understatement.  But, I think it gives me flexibility for projects.  Like this one!

"Our Song" Lyrical Typography Print.

Recognize those lyrics?  It's Tom Petty's "The Wild One - Forever."

14 Days of Valentines: Day 4 "14 Reasons Why I Love You" Banner

It's day 4 of 14 Days of Valentines, a countdown to Valentine's Day one craft at a time.

What was intended to be Day 1's project made its grand debut at Day 4.  I just didn't get the "14 Reasons Why I Love You Banner" finished in time, so my valentine will be getting 4 days of "why I love yous" in one day.  Nothing to complain about, I dare say.

14 Days of Valentines: Day 3 I Love You Alphabet Print

Day 3 of 14 Days of Valentines, a countdown to Valentine's Day one craft at a time.

I fell in love (pun!) with this free I <3 You Alphabet printable from Oopsey Daisy and couldn't wait to put it up on our mantle.  Our printer, always the let-down, was been funky so all I could print was a 5x7, so I mounted it on some red card stock and stuck it in an extra frame.  It totally works and I can never get enough red!